Sustainably Working for Sustainability

Thomas B. Newman, MD, MPHProfessor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Pediatrics,

April 23, 2016

Thanks to PSR and the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo

1

Overview● The problem● Trauma Stewardship suggestions● TN additional suggestions● Examples/stories

2

The Problem● Models and predictions keep getting

bleaker● Discrepancy between what is being

done and what needs to be done is wide● The stakes could not be higher● This stuff can be f#&*ing depressing

3

“More than any time in history mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to utter hopelessness and despair, the other to total extinction. Let us hope we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”− Woody Allen

Recommended by Rosie Newman

4Van Dermoot Lipsky, L. Trauma Stewardship. Berrett Koehler, 2009

Trauma Stewardship suggestions

● Create space for inquiry● Create a microculture of support● Find balance● Daily centering

5

Create space for inquiry

● Frequently ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing– Reconnect to the deep motivation

● Ask whether it is working– Be open to changing what isn’t

6

Create a microculture of support

● “As an individual, the most important thing you can do is not be an individual.”– Bill McKibben

7

Create a Microculture of Support● Our microculture of support should

– Shower us with encouragement– Hold us accountable.

● Form a team/committee/etc.● Have meetings

– Serve refreshments– Check in on personal life– Report on progress

8

Find balanceHave fun/keep a sense of humor

9

Find balance

10

● "Remember that the labor movement and countless other individuals worked hard to create weekends and breaks and more humane working conditions.

● “Resolve to honor those who have gone before you by agreeing only to a sustainable work schedule and sticking to it."

Van Dermoot Lipsky, L. Trauma Stewardship. Berrett Koehler, 2009

TN other suggestions and observations● Try things! They may be easier than

you think● (If not, be persistent)

11

12

Tell story of formation of senate committee

UCSF Food Service: Meats raised without antibiotics, May 2014

● Chicken breasts● Ground beef● Stew beef● Hamburger patties

13Placard in Moffitt Cafeteria

Make it fun● “A tremendous amount of international

research has been done on the topic and to date there is ZERO scientific evidence that use of antimicrobials in livestock causes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans.”– National Cattlemen’s Beef Associationhttp: //www.beefusa.

org/preservationofantibioticsformedicaltreatmentactpamta.aspx (Accessed 4/8/13)

Are they lying, clueless, or just misleading?14

Antibiotics in Agriculture● “A tremendous amount of international

research has been done on the topic and to date there is ZERO scientific evidence that use of antimicrobials in livestock causes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans.”

● Humans do not develop antimicrobial resistance

● The bacteria that infect us do!

15

San Mateo-Hayward Bridge

16

Existing sign outside Foster City Costco, 2001

17

E-mail excerpts - #1Below is the result of your feedback form. Wednesday, September 5, 2001 at 20:41:08-------------------------------------------------------------------------On behalf of the Social Action Committee of the UnitarianUniversalists of San Mateo (which thinks globally and acts locally), I'm writing to call attention to a problem that wastes time and energy. The problem is that it is too easy accidentally to get on Highway 92 Eastbound at Foster City Blvd, and be forced to drive all the way to Hayward…

18

E-mail excerpts -#7At 02:32 PM 10/22/2002 -0700, Robert_Haus@dot.ca.gov wrote:

Dear Dr. Newman:

I forwarded your remarks, once again, to the person in charge of Signing for San Mateo County… As we said previously: Signing is a matter of balance... Too few signs can lead to confusion, but too many signs can lead to the same result…

19

E-mail excerpts, #28December 12, 2004Greetings, Mr. Haus --

I was over at the Foster City Costco this afternoon, so naturally my thoughts turned to you. How are you doing? I hope you have a happy holiday season, and don't forget that the wish of the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo this year, as in 2001, 2002, and 2003, is that someday every trip to Hayward will be a wanted trip to Hayward.

Will our wish someday come true? You could make it happen.

20

Entrance to San Mateo Bridge (before)

21

Entrance to San Mateo Bridge (afterSeptember, 2005)

22

23

24

LAST EXIT

25

Summary● Recognize the problem, grieve, take

care of yourself● Work together for encouragement,

accountability and fun● Try things − they might be easier than

you think● If not…persist!

26

“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” −Talmud, Pirkei-Avot 2:21

27

Time permitting

28

Please do not feel personally, totally, irrevocably responsible for everything. That's my job. Love, God.

Keep Coming Back Gift Book: Humor & Wisdom for Living and Loving…Meiji Stewart

29

Taking comfort from the big picture● Anthropocene − 6th mass extinction

– Previous 5 were not our fault– The last one paved the way for us!

● “We live on a knife edge”– Asteroid collision– Yellowstone eruption

● Basic human deal– You will live and get attached to your life– Then you die

30

Speak Up

31

Cheat Neutral

32

Carbon Offsets Controversies● Comparison to indulgences in middle ages

– Pay money instead of repenting and changing– Satirized, e.g. CheatNeutral.com:

● “What is Cheat Offsetting?When you cheat on your partner you add to the heartbreak, pain and jealousy in the atmosphere. Cheatneutral offsets your cheating by funding someone else to be faithful and NOT cheat. This neutralises the pain and unhappy emotion and leaves you with a clear conscience.

● “Can I offset all my cheating?First you should look at ways of reducing your

cheating. Once you've done this you can use Cheatneutral to offset the remaining, unavoidable cheating.”

http://www.cheatneutral.com accessed 6/2/10 33

Carbon Offsets - Controversies ● Analogies fail because CO2 is fully

interchangeable● Emitting 1 ton and preventing another

ton is the same as not emitting 1 ton and not preventing the other ton

● Passes the “What if everybody did it?” test

● Problem: being sure you are preventing that other ton from being emitted.

34